Category: Politics

The Ooni of Ife has congratulated the flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and winner of the just concluded presidential election in Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his emergence as
president elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, urging him to start working before inauguration.

In a statement released on Wednesday by the Ooni’s Palace Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, the African foremost monarch described Tinubu as a man of destiny, a game changer and a progressive workaholic who does not only merit the victory but also has adequate proven capacity to lead the country to an enviable position in the global committee of nations.

“Your Excellency, I congratulate you and your amiable wife on behalf of the Oduduwa race worldwide as you have victoriously emerged as the President elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“You are indeed a man of destiny, you are a game changer and you are a progressive workaholic who has worked assiduously with right strategy and tactics justifying the merit of your recorded victory.

“As a pragmatic leader and manager of resources with adequate proven capacity to lead this country to an enviable position within the global committee of nations, please don’t disappoint Nigerians and the African people.” Ooni said.

Ooni, the Overall Father of Oduduwa race worldwide who doubles as Co-chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria(NCTRN) charged Tinubu to immediately assemble a transition team of cerebral men and women to come up with an economic recovery blueprint and swiftly upon his inauguration on May 29th 2023 move into action in a way that will further assure Nigerians of the ‘Renewed Hope’

“As a tested and trusted cerebral team leader that you are, you must in a couple days present your transition team of cerebral men and women to give us an economic recovery blueprint as Nigerians can not wait to be liberated from the unbearable economic hardship that has bedeviled the country in the recent times.

“Nigerians have voted for you because of your promise of a ‘Renewed Hope” and you must swiftly from your first day in office come May 29th 2023 set the ball rolling in a manner that will further assure Nigerians of the ‘Renewed Hope’. Ooni said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented certificates of return to Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, as the president and vice-president-elect.

The event is currently taking place at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Tinubu and Shettima of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the presidential election held on Saturday.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu said the road to his victory has “been long”.

“The road has been long, yet we worked it. The battle has been hard fought, yet we won it,” he said.

Tinubu said his certificate of return symbolises that each Nigerian has the ability to achieve their dreams.

He said he would work day and night to ensure the development of the country.

“By taking this sacrifice, I accept a sacred duty. I will work day and night to make Nigeria better. We are committed to the progress and development of Nigeria,” he said.

The Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of Ife has appealed to all stakeholders in the ongoing presidential election particularly politicians and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be matured in their conducts in order for peace to reign.

In an emergency press release issued at the Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife on Tuesday, the Ooni who is the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), explained that Nigerians particularly the low income earners have been waiting patiently for the electioneering period to be over for them to resume normal activities. “The imbroglio developing from the Presidential election of Saturday is unnecessary, distracting and totally unacceptable.

The nation does not need it at the moment. All over the world, elections are known to be disputed. And the tension must be addressed in a way in line with law of the land and in accordance with the best global practices.” “All politicians involved and their respective political parties without exception not to do anything capable of heating up the polity as this dangerously amounts to torching up a simmering fire of Nigerian cohesion.

“The Ooni of Ife in his capacity as the Co-chairman of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) hereby charges the nation’s electoral body to remain on the path of fairness, equity and justice as it sets to complete the process of announcing the result of the election as adopted in global best standard.” In the same vein, the Ooni urged Nigerians to remain patient and understanding of the fact that the country is far bigger than all entities and personalities.

“Nigeria and indeed some Nigerians are yet to recover from the hurts that emanated from the mismanagement of the #ENDSARS protest, that is why we must be watchful of our conducts and speeches. “Nigerians have suffered enough and any form of uproar will add to the already harsh condition of living for Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable amongst us.

I equally urge our youths to resist all pressure to be utilized by unpatriotic elements as thugs.” The Ooni stated. Signed: Otunba Moses Olafare, Director, Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace.

Some Yoruba leaders under the aegis of Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) and Yoruba Assembly on Monday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to complete the electoral process by announcing the results of the presidential poll.

The groups also rejected the call for the suspension of the process by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying his comment amounted to “undue interference” in the constitutional duties of INEC as an independent agency under the law.

According to the organisations, there is no room for annulment, no basis for intermediate government and the military should not be incited against the democratic process.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state has urged party faithfuls in the state to dust off the outcome of the February 25 presidential and national assembly election, and remain focused on the coming governorship election.

The Chairman of PDP in Oyo state, Hon Dayo Ogungbenro, who disclosed this in a press statement released to journalists on Monday said the party is fully aware of the political dynamics that led to the outcome of the Feb 25 election.

While congratulating all elected members for the House of Representatives, the party expressed empathy with all candidates who could not win assuring them of the party’s continuous supports.

The party maintained that the outcome of last Saturday’s election is not an indication of the party’s weakness in Oyo state stressing that the political dynamics that played out during the national assembly election is already being studied for necessary action.

While expressing appreciation to party members and leaders across the 33 local government areas of the state, the ruling party said Oyo state must remain PDP compliant come March 11 governorship and state assembly elections.

“We have had the much anticipated presidential and national assembly elections come and gone. We know the dynamics that played out, even a toddler who followed the build up to the election understood those political dynamics. So, our party faithfuls and leaders must in the spirit of securing Oyo state under accelerated development tagged “Omituntun 2.0″ remain focused to ensure that we do not let down the good people of Oyo state whose eyes are all over the PDP government for the sustenance of good governance under our pragmatic leader and Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde”.

“It should be well noted by all party members and leaders in Oyo state that we are currently taking results from all the 33 local government into account with the view to addressing all issues connected thereto in due time.” The party said.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), has won the presidential election in Lagos state. He defeated Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard bearer.

APC: 572, 606

LP: 582, 354

NNPP: 8442

PDP: 75 750

SDP: 772

Accredited voters: 1,347152

Total Valid votes: 1271451

Rejected votes: 64278

Total votes cast: 1,335729

Femi Fani-Kayode has mocked the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ahead of the announcement of the 2023 presidential election result by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

INEC will commence collation and announcement of results by 12 pm on Sunday and Fani-Kayode is already seeing a victory for Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate.

However, the former minister of aviation did not mention the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, who is currently leading in some states.

He believes that Tinubu will end up in Aso Rock Villa, while Atiku will head to Dubai, United Arab Emirates after the election results have been announced.

“As we wait for the results to be released by @inecnigeria I can tell you that it’s looking good for us. @officialABAT is preparing to go to the Villa whilst @atiku is preparing to go back to Dubai,” he tweeted.

“This time let’s hope he stays there! #NigeriaDecides2023 #presidentialelection2023.”

Thugs attacked two different polling units in two states in Nigeria, stealing at least eight BVAS machines, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said, hours after voting commenced in many parts of the country.

Mr Yakubu, who briefed journalists in Abuja, said voting continued in the two polling areas as backup BVAS machines were provided.

He also said voting was delayed in a part of Niger State due to an attack by bandits in the area,

Mr Yakubu also acknowledged that there was a late arrival of electoral officials and materials in many polling units across Nigeria.

He said the commission would resolve the problem by ensuring that anyone that was in the queue by 2:30 am would be allowed to vote, no matter how long it takes.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned voters that the use of mobile phones or any photographic device inside the voting cubicle to take pictures of the party they cast their votes for would not be allowed.

The National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC Voter Education and Publicity Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, made this known during a news programme on Channels Television.

He said anyone caught will be jailed upon prosecution.

According to him, “No one will be allowed to take his or her phone to the voting cubicle. It is prohibited.

“Officials of the ICPC, EFCC and security agencies will be on hand to monitor and ensure that the law in that respect is not violated.”